Match of the day crisis
The biggest crisis for the BBC football program “Match of the Day” started on the 9th March 2023 over the handling of the situation with Gary Lineker’s social media tweets. The whole situation escalated very quickly ion social media as more fellow commentators showed solidarity with Gary Lineker and decided to withdraw from appearing on the show while the crisis is ongoing.
How is social media reacting to the “Match of the Day” crisis?
Social media reflected and debated on the issues at the core of this crisis.
Following Lineker’s comments, some social media users criticized him for sharing political opinions, with some calling for him to be fired from his role as a BBC presenter. However, many others defended Lineker and praised him for using his platform to raise awareness of important issues.
The controversy gained significant attention on social media, with hashtags such as #IStandWithGaryLineker and #GaryLineker trending on Twitter. Lineker himself responded to the criticism, stating that he had a right to express his views as a private citizen and that he would continue to speak out on issues that he felt strongly about.
Overall, the reaction to the Gary Lineker crisis on social media was mixed, with some supporting his right to free speech and others calling for him to be held accountable for his comments.
The results so far:
- 120,000 mentions in the first 2 days
- 700 million reach in the first 2 days
- 90% negative sentiment for the BBC in the first 2 days
The BBC
The crisis is growing as more football commentators working for the BBC show solidarity with Gary Lineker. The BBC has reacted by cancelling shows both on TV and radio. They have chosen to issue any public statements at this time which is a normal tactic but of course they are very busy behind the scenes.
It is never easy being a social media manager in the midst of a crisis. This has happened to me on a few occasions. In times of crisis the role of community manager is key. They must be a part of a wider crisis management team
How do you think the BBC has handled this crisis?
